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Introducing biodynamic Barossa Valley winery Alkina

Backed by a billionaire Argentinian vintner and with South Australian winemaker Amelia Nolan at the helm, new Greenock winery Alkina launches this weekend, with a newly built tasting room, luxury accommodation, and a new range of biodynamic wines.

Oct 30, 2020, updated Oct 30, 2020
Alkina managing director Amelia Nolan pictured in the winery. Photo: Mike Smith.

Alkina managing director Amelia Nolan pictured in the winery. Photo: Mike Smith.

Alkina is located on a 60-hectare farm in Greenock, purchased in 2015 by billionaire Argentinian vintner Alejandro Bulgheroni, who spent three years exploring Australia before settling on the Barossa.

Adding to Bulgheroni’s portfolio of estates in California, Argentina, Uruguay, France and Italy, Alkina’s launch reveals five years of work, including Australian-first studies of geology and terroir.

The winemaking process is unique for the region, with fruit fermented in Georgian qvevri and Italian amphorae rather than the more traditional oak barrels.

The winery, luxury accommodation, and tasting room are located in renovated heritage buildings that stretch back to the 1850s, with the project overseen by managing director Amelia Nolan.

Nolan came on board after more than a decade working in the wine industry in Europe. Originally from South Australia, Amelia returned to Adelaide with her husband and two young sons to embark on the new project with Bulgheroni.

“With plantings dating from the 1950s and a set of run-down buildings dating from the 1850s, we had a vision of transformation and we set ourselves the challenge to create a haven where we can make great wine and a beautiful place in which to share it,” says Nolan.

With Alkina’s tasting room set to open this weekend, the winery has also launched a unique range of biodynamic wines called Kin By Alkina.

All wines are grown and made on-site, with 43 hectares of certified organic and biodynamic vineyards. Varieties include semillon, rosé, grenache, riesling, and shiraz.

In establishing the winery, Alkina sought input from leading international wine consultant Alberto Antonini and Chilean terroir expert Pedro Parra.

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“We hope Alkina will become synonymous with the notion that terroir is pivotal to winemaking,” says Nolan.

Central to the endeavour is soil health and plant and microbial diversity. Greenock Creek runs through the farm as an important nature corridor with a vital native bee population.

The winery has completed an insect study and a planting program of 650 new native trees along Greenock Creek.

“Over the last few years we have achieved so much: brought this beautiful vineyard back to life, planted native vegetation and new vines, developed our Micro-Terroir project,” says Nolan.

We have worked with many talented local tradespeople in the Barossa to get this project completed and we feel privileged to be a part of the broader Barossa community. We hope that we can make a contribution to what is already a truly exceptional place”.

The tasting room at 41 Victor Road, Greenock, will serve curated wine flights with accompanying cheese and charcuterie plates, with pantry items and wine to enjoy in the picturesque outdoor spaces.

The tasting room is open from 11am to 5 pm on Friday to Monday, and by appointment on Wednesday and Thursday (closed Tuesday).

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